Improved device for preventing horses from dragging weights



- ALEXANDER POPE, JB., oF Doneinas'rn, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters- Patent No. 77,317, dated prl 28, 18,68.

IMPRovED DEVICE son BRBVBNTING HORSES FROM'DRAGGING wnreurs.

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Be it known that I, ALEXANDER POPE, Jr., of Dorchester, in the eounty'tNorfolk, and State of Massachu; se tts, have invented a new and improved Curb for Horses, oi' which. thefo'llowing. is a'full, clear,and exact -description', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart of this speoiticatiomin which,.

-Figure 2 represents the device on an enlarged scale; andl Figure 3 isamodiiication o fmy invention.

Figur-e1 represents the device embodying my improvement in'its mode of application to a horses mouth.

The objeet of -my nventionis mainly. to provide ameans for lprev'entingia horse from dragging theI weight which is attached by afstrapto the bits-ring to hold hire; and the invention consists voi a curved rod, provided at one end with a short cross-pie'ee,`which -is designed to fit onthe under jaw of'a, horse in the rear o 'the mouth,l which rod is attached loosely to a crossbar, provided at each end with a snap-hook, so as to admitof its'heing. Vreadily attached to and detaehed'fr'om the rings of' a horses bit on each side, thefront endrof the said curved --rod extending a short'distance -in front of the .horse's mouth, so that when-any downward pressure is exerted on V qthe outer end otvthe r,od,.it' will act as a lever on' the cross-har, fora fulcrum to press the rear cross-piece against the under side of the lower jaw of the horse, so that when avoord. or strap, with a weight attached to one end, is'seoured to the front end of the curved'rod, any attempt on the part of the horse Ato move and drag the weight will, by means of the pressure exerted by the cross-baron his under jaw, cause him to desist and stand quiet.

, Referring to the drawings, A B represent a curved bar, oi' the general form' shown. At its rear end is'a short cross-piece, C. At a point nearer its rear. end is jointed or swivelled a'cross-bar, D, having at cach end a snap-hook, d s, so 'that it can ho easily attached to the rings of a horses bit, as shown in fig. 1.

The front end of the rod extendsjorward 'a little beyond the horses mouth, and the rear cross-piece C' is designed to t against the underjaw or alittle in the rear ofthe mouth. l

The rod A B issecured tothe centre of the cross-bar `D, so as to allow of a `free motion on.the same, and

to act as a lever,"with thecross-bar D as a fulcruin, so lthat whena downward pressure isexertedupon the front Y en d of the rod A, to-which the weight is attached bya strap or cord, the cross-piece C'will be forced against the under-jaw of the horse. The more force used, the greaternvill be the pressure on'the horse, who will naturally 'seek to relieve himself ot it by hacking and releasing the tension ofthe strap.

' `A. comparatively light weight mayjthus be u sed,.andl will be sufficient to check' th'e inclination ofthe horse tomove. 'Y The device may be secured to the strap that carries lthe weightfvand is easily attached to or detached fron:

the bit-rings,'wl1en.necessary,`so as to be carried about'with the weight in the vehicle towhich the horse. is

harnessed.

Figure 3 is a' modifica-tion ofnly invention, and consists of a rod with two sides., A-A, and forming a curve, C in the rear, and attached to a cross-rod, D', to which are pivoted two snap-hooks d. This form is designed to be used as an ordinary'curhso asto'be readily attached to a horse's bit',the curb-reins being attached to the rings yon the outer ends. It mayalso be usedto preventa horse from eribbing, when properly applied,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is` 1k. The bar or-le'ver AB, providedlwith a cross-piece, c, or its equivalent, in combination withcross-bar l), snbstaiitially as'anfl for the purposes specified. i l 2. I also claim theswiveilled bar D, provided with the fastenings 'd s, asl and for the purpdse set forth.

3. l also claim theA attachment Ato a. horses bit ofthe lever A. B and'swivelled cross-bar D,-' as and for the purpose'described. I l u In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.' ALEXANDER. POPE, Ja.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS,

WM. CARROLL Porn. L* 

